Carson Palmer, the starting quarterback for the previous five seasons, retired in the offseason. To replace him, the Cardinals signed veteran quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon, also selecting Josh Rosen in the first round of the draft. While Rosen took over the starting job by week 4, he and Bradford struggled throughout the season with Glennon only playing sparingly. All three quarterbacks were released or traded by the Cardinals during or after the season.
With a Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Cardinals had their first double digit loss season since 2012 and were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season. One highlight of the Cardinals' 2018 season was their first ever victory against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, which also resulted in the firing of Packers head coach Mike McCarthy after a nearly 13-year tenure. They finished the season 3–13, their worst record since 2000. The Cardinals also tallied a 1–7 record at home, the worst in franchise history until it was tied by four years later. Head coach Steve Wilks was fired the day after the season ended. The Cardinals finished last place in the division for the first time since 2012.
This was also the last full season under the ownership of Bill Bidwill, who died during the 2019 season.
The Cardinals traded their fourth-round selection (115th overall), and their second-, fourth- and sixth-round selections in 2017 (45th, 119th and 197th overall) to Chicago in exchange for Chicago's second-round selection in 2017 (36th overall).
The Cardinals were awarded one third-, one fourth- and one fifth-round compensatory pick (97th, 134th and 254th overall).[1]
The Cardinals traded their sixth-round selection (189th overall) to New Orleans in exchange for running back Adrian Peterson.[2]
The Cardinals traded their seventh-round selection (233rd overall) to Kansas City in exchange for cornerback Marcus Cooper.[3]
The Cardinals traded center Tony Bergstrom to Baltimore in exchange for Baltimore's seventh-round selection (238th overall). However, the trade was voided as the result of Bergstrom not meeting playing time conditions with the Ravens.[4]
Rosen's first start was a loss as the Seahawks kicked a game-winning field goal. The Cardinals started 0–4 for the first time since 1986 when they were in St. Louis. Coupled with wins by the Raiders and Texans, the Cardinals became the only winless team in the NFL.
In an upset, the Cardinals beat the Packers on the road for the first time since the 1949 season, when the Cardinals were based in Chicago, snapping a nine-game road losing streak against the Packers. It was also the first time they did so at Lambeau Field.[5]
^ abNew Orleans finished ahead of LA Rams based on head-to-head victory, claiming the No. 1 seed.
^ abcAtlanta finished ahead of Washington based on head-to-head victory. Atlanta finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head sweep. Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head victory.
^ abNY Giants finished ahead of Tampa Bay based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
Carson Palmer, the starting quarterback for the previous five seasons, retired in the offseason. To replace him, the Cardinals signed veteran quarterbacks Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon, also selecting Josh Rosen in the first round of the draft. While Rosen took over the starting job by week 4, he and Bradford struggled throughout the season with Glennon only playing sparingly. All three quarterbacks were released or traded by the Cardinals during or after the season.
With a Week 14 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Cardinals had their first double digit loss season since 2012 and were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season. One highlight of the Cardinals' 2018 season was their first ever victory against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, which also resulted in the firing of Packers head coach Mike McCarthy after a nearly 13-year tenure. They finished the season 3–13, their worst record since 2000. The Cardinals also tallied a 1–7 record at home, the worst in franchise history until it was tied by four years later. Head coach Steve Wilks was fired the day after the season ended. The Cardinals finished last place in the division for the first time since 2012.
This was also the last full season under the ownership of Bill Bidwill, who died during the 2019 season.
The Cardinals traded their fourth-round selection (115th overall), and their second-, fourth- and sixth-round selections in 2017 (45th, 119th and 197th overall) to Chicago in exchange for Chicago's second-round selection in 2017 (36th overall).
The Cardinals were awarded one third-, one fourth- and one fifth-round compensatory pick (97th, 134th and 254th overall).[1]
The Cardinals traded their sixth-round selection (189th overall) to New Orleans in exchange for running back Adrian Peterson.[2]
The Cardinals traded their seventh-round selection (233rd overall) to Kansas City in exchange for cornerback Marcus Cooper.[3]
The Cardinals traded center Tony Bergstrom to Baltimore in exchange for Baltimore's seventh-round selection (238th overall). However, the trade was voided as the result of Bergstrom not meeting playing time conditions with the Ravens.[4]
Rosen's first start was a loss as the Seahawks kicked a game-winning field goal. The Cardinals started 0–4 for the first time since 1986 when they were in St. Louis. Coupled with wins by the Raiders and Texans, the Cardinals became the only winless team in the NFL.
Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers
Week Five: Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
In an upset, the Cardinals beat the Packers on the road for the first time since the 1949 season, when the Cardinals were based in Chicago, snapping a nine-game road losing streak against the Packers. It was also the first time they did so at Lambeau Field.[5]
Week 14: vs. Detroit Lions
Week Fourteen: Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions
0
3
7
7
17
Cardinals
0
0
0
3
3
at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Date: December 9
Game time: 2:25 p.m. MST
Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C), cloudy and cold, possible snow flurries — retractable roof open
^ a bNew Orleans finished ahead of LA Rams based on head-to-head victory, claiming the No. 1 seed.
^ a b cAtlanta finished ahead of Washington based on head-to-head victory. Atlanta finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head sweep. Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head victory.
^ a bNY Giants finished ahead of Tampa Bay based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
References
^"2018 NFL Draft trade tracker: Details of all the moves". NFL. April 24, 2018. Archived from the original on March 16, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
^Orr, Conor (October 10, 2017). "Saints trade RB Adrian Peterson to Cardinals". NFL. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
^Sessler, Marc (September 2, 2016). "Cardinals acquire CB Marcus Cooper from Chiefs". NFL. Retrieved September 2, 2016.
^Root, Jess (March 2, 2018). "Cardinals don't get 7th-round draft pick in trade with Ravens for Tony Bergstrom". USA Today. Retrieved March 2, 2018.
^"Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers". The Football Database.
^Weinfuss, Jerry (December 9, 2018). "Cardinals' Fitzgerald passes Rice's catch mark". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
^"Shay returns interception for TD, Lions beat Arizona 17-3". ESPN. Associated Press. December 9, 2018. Archived from the original on October 18, 2025. Retrieved October 18, 2025.
